Group wants FCC to investigate Apple, AT&T

An open-Internet advocacy group asked the Federal Communications Commission Friday to investigate whether Apple Inc. and AT&T Inc. are violating federal rules by limiting use of a new low-cost Skype voice service on iPhones.

Since Skype launched its new iPhone application last Tuesday, Apple has limited its use, only allowing the application to work when users are within reach of a Wi-Fi hotspot and not over AT&T’s 3G network.

Skype allows users to call other Skype users for free, and calls to external numbers can be placed for a fee. The application quickly became the most downloaded iPhone application last week.

The advocacy group, Free Press, had previously gone after cable and wireless companies for restricting use before, according to the WSJ article.

Apple had no comment, while AT&T defended the decision to restrict the usage of Skype.

“Customers are free to download and use the apps they want, but we have no obligation—nor should we have—to facilitate or subsidize our competitors’ businesses,” the AT&T spokesman said.